Dave Filoni Reportedly Set to Lead Star Wars as Kathleen Kennedy Prepares Exit

Lucasfilm is reportedly on the verge of a major leadership change, with longtime Star Wars creative Dave Filoni poised to take over as co-president of the studio alongside Lynwen Brennan.

According to Puck’s 2026 predictions, current Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is expected to step down later this month. The report claims preparations for her exit are already underway, including a planned farewell interview. If confirmed, Filoni and Brennan would replace her as co-presidents of the Star Wars studio.

Under the proposed structure, the two leaders would split responsibilities. Brennan, who currently serves as president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business, would oversee the company’s operational and executive side. Filoni, meanwhile, would become the key decision-maker on creative matters, guiding the direction of Star Wars across films, television series, and future platforms.

Filoni has long been seen by fans as a natural creative heir within the franchise. A protégé of Star Wars creator George Lucas, he has played a central role in shaping modern Star Wars storytelling, particularly on the television side, and is widely credited with helping expand the galaxy for a new generation.

Kennedy has led Lucasfilm since 2012, overseeing the company’s sale to Disney and the launch of a new era of Star Wars films and streaming series. Rumors about her retirement first surfaced in February 2025, but she quickly pushed back on claims that she was stepping away immediately.

At the time, Kennedy made it clear that while she had no plans to retire from filmmaking, she had been in ongoing talks with Disney leadership about the studio’s long-term future.

“The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies,” she said last year. “What’s happening at Lucasfilm is I have been talking for quite some time with both Bob [Iger] and Alan [Bergman] about what eventual succession might look like.”

She also emphasized that Lucasfilm has a strong leadership bench and that any transition would be carefully planned well in advance.

If the latest report proves accurate, that plan may now be coming into focus. A Filoni–Brennan partnership would mark a significant shift for Lucasfilm, pairing a fan-favorite creative voice with a seasoned business executive as the studio charts its next chapter in a galaxy far, far away.